It has been a feast or famine year for the gardens. The broccoli, onions, garlic and potatoes have had great yields. The tomatoes, cucumber, squash, corn, beans and a host of other spring garden crops have either been anemic or energetic depending on where you live. The weather is to blame for this disparity. I heard we have had as many as 7 freezes this spring. Most of the folks to the south and southeast have had a tremendously productive spring. However the north and west areas have been slow or have lost crops altogether. I had no freeze damage but the cold sure did stunt the growth. My Sweet 100 tomato finally started to produce during the last week of June. The plants look great but the harvest has been slow. If you are in the same situation, don’t fret. Prune those indeterminate tomatoes back (just a little), keep them mulched and properly water. Pull the squash, cucumber and determinate tomatoes when they are done producing.
Now is the time to get those empty garden spaces ready for the next crops. If you are adding compost to your garden, try to mix some native soil with it. Don’t forget to add some fertilizer. With the change in the season and the crops, now is a good time to plan out that next crop rotation.
For more information on Crop Rotation, please click here.
